SNAP ‘outs’ eight more publicly accused priest offenders
Victim says Jesuits are being ‘deceitful’
Officials give out some accused abusers’ names
Then later, they quietly disclose clerics’ assignments
New info shows 50% more alleged predators were here
SNAP ‘outs’ eight more publicly accused priest offenders
Total number of reported molesters at SLU now stands at 15
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will disclose the names of and details about 8 more publicly accused abusive local priests.
They will also
--charge local Jesuit officials with ‘misleading the public’ about the extent of the abuse here and
-- call on Catholic staffers to disclose which child molesting clerics live or have lived or worked on at St. Louis University.
WHEN
Friday, March 8 at 1:30 p.m.
WHERE
Outside St. Francis Xavier Church, corner of Grand & Lindell, across from St. Louis University in St. Louis MO
WHO
Three or four members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
WHY
1) In early December, Jesuit officials sent out news releases giving the names of some accused abusive clerics. The Post-Dispatch reported that 17 of them had ties to St. Louis.
But on December 21, without sending news releases, the Jesuits quietly posted the work histories of these accused clerics. That document reveals at least eight more accused Jesuit clerics who are or were here in St. Louis.
SNAP feels this was a carefully–crafted public relations move designed to minimize the extent of the harm done here by Jesuit brothers, priests and seminarians.
One of these eight was/is on the Missouri sex offender registry. One was involved in a $4.8 million settlement. One was convicted of abuse in 2011, was sent here, and was arrested here four years later on child pornography charges. Three were accused in civil lawsuits of abusing several Native American kids. Four were associated with SLU and one was at Washington University.
Their names and details about their cases will be provided at the news conference.
2) Other Jesuit colleges have experienced scandal recently when suspended or accused Jesuit clerics were found living on or near their campuses (notably Fordham in New York and Gonzaga in Washington). At one, students are now forbidden to visit the Jesuits’ infirmary and retirement home on campus.
http://www.snapnetwork.org/jesuits_fordham_university_jan19
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/dec/21/two-jesuit-priests-resign-from-gonzaga-following-r/
SNAP now knows of 15 proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics who have been at SLU. The group wants SLU to disclose if some are still on or near the campus.
In November, SNAP ‘outed’ four abusive clerics who were at the school: Fr. Jerold W. Lindner, Fr. James Glenn Murray, Fr. John Harrington and Fr. Thomas J. Naughton.
http://www.snapnetwork.org/seven_new_accused_clerics_here_are_outed
A decade ago, SNAP warned SLU students and staff about seven other publicly accused abusive clerics living at Jesuit Hall on the corner of Lindell and Grand: Fr. Chester Gaiter, Fr. Vincent W. Bryce, Fr. Gerhardt B. Lehmkuhl. Fr. Charles Miller, Fr. Juan Carlos Duran, Fr. Eugene Maio and Fr. Jack Campbell.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2009/05_06/2009_05_13_King_SNAPSays.htm
At that same time, SNAP prodded college and archdiocesan officials to disclose others who were in the same building.
(NOTE – Former SLU president Daniel O’Connell was sued by two former women who say he assaulted them when they were young, vulnerable students.)
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2016/01_02/2016_01_08_LawyerHerald_JesuitsReached.htm
CONTACT
David Clohessy 314 566 9790, [email protected]